The widespread rap on county fairs is that they mainly feature rank newcomers and real old-timers, artists who are either on their way up or down in the music business. Many folks donâ€™t expect to see acts that are in… Continue Reading →

The widespread rap on county fairs is that they mainly feature rank newcomers and real old-timers, artists who are either on their way up or down in the music business. Many folks donâ€™t expect to see acts that are in the primes of their careers on a county fair concert stage.

Yet, then how then do you explain the fact that Los Lobos are playing as part of this yearâ€™s Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton? These rockinâ€™ Wolves, who will take the fair stage on July 5, rank as one of the most vital, important and downright awesome acts in music today. The band is anything but your prototypical county fair offering.

The Alameda County Fair, which opens June 20 and runs through July 6, has always been one that has surpassed expectations when it comes to live entertainment. Its concert lineup regularly features some mighty impressive entertainers, and this year is no exception to the rule.

For a fraction of what it costs to see a concert at most other venues, fans can watch such big-name acts as Los Lobos, Boyz II Men, War, Paul Rodriguez and Ronnie Milsap. Others set for 2008 include Terri Clark, Eddie Money, Pablo Cruise and Wayman Tisdale. Collectively, the entertainers will represent a plethora of stylistic genres, from R&B and gospel to childrenâ€™s music and comedy to classic rock and country.

The following is a breakdown of the fairâ€™s 2008 lineup:

Doodlebops Live! (June 20)
Kids spend far too much time watching TV during the summer. So, get them out of the house and to the fair, where they can watch TV characters perform in person. The Doodlebops are the stars of the immensely popular self-titled TV program that airs on Disney Channel. Itâ€™s tempting to think of them as the 21st century version of the Banana Splits, yet the Doodlebops _ Deedee, Moe and Rooney Doodle _ are much more focused on educating their audience. They perform as kidâ€™s rock band on the TV show, and in concert, and their catchy songs address important life lessons and social skills.

Terri Clark (June 21)
The Canadian-born country star is known for such hit singles as “Better Things to Do,â€ “When Boy Meets Girl” and “If I Were You.” During previous Bay Area outings, at such big-time venues as Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Clark has usually managed to show her audiences a rowdy good time.

Boyz II Men (June 22)
Everyone is all excited about the New Kids On the Block reunion tour, set to hit the HP Pavilion in San Jose on Oct. 10. Fair-goers, however, can see another legendary boy band _ Boyz II Men _ for far less than what it costs to catch the New Kids. These Boyz rank among the most successful bands of all time. The R&B group has sold more than 90 million records to date and scored numerous No. 1 hits, including “End of the Road,â€ â€œI’ll Make Love to You” and “One Sweet Day.”

Life in the Fast Lane â€“ A Tribute to the Eagles (June 23)
Classic rock fans in the Bay Area have their fingers crossed that, sometime in the very near future, we will receive word that the â€œrealâ€ Eagles are coming back to town. Until then, weâ€™ll just have to get our Eagles fix with this tribute band. Thatâ€™s not a bad thing, given that any night we get to hear such classics as â€œHotel Californiaâ€ and â€œTake It Easyâ€ is a very good night.

Mark Schultz (June 24)
A major force on the contemporary Christian music scene, Schultz is well-known both for his stellar singing voice and his impressive work on the piano. To date, heâ€™s earned seven chart-topping Christian music records and one mainstream crossover success, the single â€œHeâ€™s My Son.â€

Ronnie Milsap (June 25)
This legendary country vocalist has so many great tunes that we simply couldnâ€™t name them all in this space. A partial list would include â€œPure Love,â€ â€œDaydreams About Night Things,â€ â€œWhat Goes On When the Sun Goes Downâ€ and, perhaps best of all, â€œ(Iâ€™m a) Stand By My Woman Man.â€ Caution: A night spent listening to Milsap could make what you later hear on contemporary country radio sound pretty pitiful.

The Cheeseballs (June 26)
Looking to dance like a crazy person? If so, turn out to see one of the Bay Areaâ€™s most enduring party bands. The Cheeseballs perform high-energy versions of songs we all know by heart. The group is known to cover such tunes as Donna Summerâ€™s â€œBad Girls,â€ Rose Royceâ€™s â€œCar Washâ€ and KC and the Sunshine Bandâ€™s â€œBoogie Man.â€

Pablo Cruise (June 27)
For a good decade, roughly lasting from 1975 to 1985, it seemed like it was impossible to turn on a Top 40 radio station and not hear this band. Obviously, things have changed. Yet, one thing has remained the same: Fans will love hearing the likes of “Watcha Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye” and “Love Will Find a Way” in concert.

Wayman Tisdale (June 28)
Back when Tisdale was hitting jumpers and grabbing rebounds for the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns in the NBA, the 6-ft-9-inch center/power forward seemed like an unlikely candidate to someday fashion a second career as professional jazz musician. Yet, since trading in the round ball for the bass guitar, Tisdale has beaten all expectations and become a major force on the contemporary jazz scene.

Paul Rodriguez (June 29)
This yuckster has starred in more 30 films, a handful of which were even worth watching, yet his true calling remains the live stage. His stand-up routine has been making audiences laugh for more than two decades. Some of his bits miss the mark, but far more strike bullseyes.

Trin-i-Tee 5:7 (June 30)
This New Orleans trio mixes R&B and gospel into a very contemporary Christian music sound. The group, consisting of Angel Taylor, Chanelle Hayes and Adrian Anderson, appeals to fans of both secular and nonsecular music. Give this one a shot if you like such such girl groups as Destiny’s Child and TLC.

Fastball (July 1)
Fastballâ€™s career was on the fasttrack in the late â€˜90s. The groupâ€™s â€™98 album, â€œAll the Pain Money Can Buy,â€ reached platinum status within six months of its release and remained on the Billboard 200 for an entire year. Since then, there have been plenty of curves and changeups thrown in Fastballâ€™s direction. Yet, the Texas rock band has weathered the down times and are still going strong.

Eddie Money (July 2)
It might be hard to fathom in 2008, but there was a time when Money challenged the Grateful Dead, Santana and Journey for the title of best-known Bay Area music act. Thatâ€™s because he had so many great hits in the â€˜70s and â€˜80s, starting out with seminal rock anthems like “Two Tickets To Paradise” and “Baby Hold On” and continuing on with such friendly pop-rockers as “Think I’m In Love” and “Shakin.â€ Hereâ€™s hoping he plays â€œGimme Some Water.â€

War (July 3)
In the early â€˜70s, War burst onto the national scene _ straight outta Long Beach, CA _ and quickly began collecting hit singles. During the first half of the decade, the band released four seminal records (1971â€™s â€œAll Day Music,â€ 1972â€™s â€œThe World is a Ghetto,â€ 1973â€™s â€œDeliver the Worldâ€ and 1975â€™s â€œWhy Canâ€™t We Be Friends?â€) that produced such lasting tracks as â€œThe Cisco Kidâ€ and â€œLow Rider.â€

Red, White and Blues (July 4)
This annual all-day festival, which begins at noon and lasts through an 8 p.m. set, is a really safe bet. If you like blues music, youâ€™re going to like Red, White and Blues. This yearâ€™s offering, once again put together by the Bay Area Blues Society, features such local blues masters as Ron Thompson, JC Smith and the Caravan of All Stars.

Los Lobos (July 5)
These Wolves from East L.A. have sold out legendary venues like San Franciscoâ€™s Fillmore, shared the stage with such rock stars as Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, and been a major force in the touring industry since the mid-â€˜80s. Now, this classy rock band, which draws from such genres as Tex-Mex, folk, country and blues as well as traditional Mexican and Spanish music styles, is coming to Pleasanton for what will likely be the distinct highlight of the 2008 Alameda County Fair concert lineup.

Steve Holy (July 6)
The fairâ€™s concert schedule comes to a close with shows by this fine Dallas-born country singer. Holy is best known for his pair of No. 1 country singles _ â€œGood Morning Beautifulâ€ (2001) and â€œBrand New Girlfriendâ€ (2006) _ although heâ€™s also recorded such hits as â€œThe Hunger,â€ â€œPut Your Best Dress Onâ€ and â€œCome On Rain.â€

The 2008 Alameda County Fair concert lineup
When: Saturday through July 6; two shows per night, at 6 and 8 p.m. (The one exception is the all-day Fourth of July blues festival.)
Where: Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton
Tickets: Concerts are included as part of fair admission ($10 ages 13-61, $7 ages 62 and over, $6 ages 6-12, no charge for those under 6). Parking is $8 general; $15 VIP.
Call: 925-426-7600, www.alamedacountyfair.com